6 Bad Habits That Harm Your Teeth

It is undeniable that everyone would like to have a set of white, healthy,good-looking teeth. Therefore, you will do all it takes to achieve thisobjective, and some of the routine things you will do include brushing andflossing. These are great steps, but did you know that there are some habitsthat can be detrimental to your dental health without you even knowing? Many patientswho complain of dental problems have accidentally damaged their teeth with whatthey thought were harmless habits. In this article, we will explain six of thecommon bad habits that may harm your teeth.

1) Chewing ice

If you are
the kind of person who loves chewing ice cubes, then be warned that your habit
may ruin your teeth in the long run. Ice cubes, however small they may be, are
too hard for teeth to crush down when chewed. If you choose to do so, then you
are repeatedly colliding two hard surfaces, and one of them will eventually break
(your teeth will often be what breaks). Chewing ice can chip or crack your
teeth and, if that happens, it can cause a great deal of pain!

2) Nail biting

Some of us
have had the habit of biting nails, especially when we were young!
Unfortunately, for some people, this habit did not stop at childhood. The worst
part of it is that it appears in the list of bad dental habits, and so it can
be harmful to oral health. Frequent nail-biting can cause the lower jaw to become
misaligned, which can cause chipped teeth and impede a healthy smile. The
effects do not stop though; jaw dysfunction leads to a severe pain called TMD
or temporomandibular disorder.

3) Using teeth as tools

If you have ever
been to a construction site, you will undoubtedly see one or two people using
their teeth to pull something, be it a cable or ripping off a seal. Even at
home, people are pulling off product price tags using their teeth instead of a
pair of scissors! Well, there are endless examples of how people are giving
their teeth new roles apart for eating. What they did not know is that this
habit can severely harm their teeth. More often than not, it leads to cracked
or chipped teeth. It also puts you at a higher risk of accidentally swallowing
something you should not or injuring your jaws.

4) Grinding and clenching teeth

Many people
engage in a habit called bruxism, when sleeping. Bruxism is a state of clenching and grinding
teeth. This condition is hard to control. Just as it sounds, people with this
condition find themselves clenching their jaws with their lower and upper teeth
set against each other. If this repeats over time, it causes permanent jaw and
tooth injury, such as chipped or cracked teeth and joint pain. It also leads to
a more severe dental problem like TMD.

5) Constant snacking

Most of us
love feasting on snacks, but little did we know that it might cause dental
issues. This is so especially if you satisfy your appetite in sugary liquids
and food throughout the day! Harmful bacteria feed on sugary snacks which, in
turn, causes the bacteria to excrete acid that damages tooth enamel. If you frequently indulge in sugary snacks,
then your teeth will become a permanent host of pathogens, resulting in tooth
cavities.

6) Brushing too hard

We oftenadvise our clients to brush their teeth at least two times a day for twominutes as a rule of thumb for optimum dental health. However, we have notedwith great concern that some people brush too hard, thinking that the practicewill eliminate all the plaque and tartar from their teeth. In reality, thishabit damages your teeth as it irritates the gums, which eventually leads togum recession or gum disease.Theaforementioned are just a few habits that unknowingly damage our teeth. Whileit may not be easy to stay away from these practices, it is highly advisablethat you keep trying to mend your habits. If you can successfully break all ofthem, then you will ultimately boost your dental and overall health.